When Julian walked out of the breeding house, Teacher El couldn't help but ask curiously, "Why didn't you choose Bagon?"

  Out of the five Pokémon avaible, Bagon clearly had the greatest potential. As a pseudo-legendary Pokémon, Bagon's final form, Samence, was incredibly strong and even had a Mega Evolution.

  The same could be said for Treecko, which also had a Mega Evolution. Pokémon with these forms often had a distinct advantage, assuming their Trainers had the corresponding Mega Evolution stones.

  Given Julian's background, Teacher El had no doubts he could easily get his hands on Samence's Mega Evolution stohrough the Walker family.

  Julian, however, shrugged lightly. "I just think Growlithe suits me better."

  If he hadn't retly acquired the fire crystal from the secret realm, he might have goh Bagon.

  But with this rare fire-type treasure in his possession, choosing Growlithe felt like the right move.

  As much as blue-qualified Bagon was valuable, he figured there'd be other ces to capture one down the line if he ever felt the need, especially with the system resources at his disposal, he could just raise oo blue qualification if needed.

  Hearing Julian's words, Growlithe wagged his tail in joy.

  Julian, inwardly pleased with his choice, also couldn't help but smirk.

  "Choosing based on intuition and bond — that's an essential quality of an excellent Trainer," Teacher El said approvingly.

  Most Trainers, when giveion, would always go for the most powerful or prestigious Pokémon, like a Charmander over a Caterpie.

  Even if their heart leaoward the less popur choice, logic usually dictated otherwise for long-term success.

  Of course, choosing from the heart only worked when it didn't interfere with one's future goals or cause a ter on.

  Julian simply Teacher El's words, choosing to keep his thoughts about the fire crystal to himself.

  "Growlithe is an excellent choice," Teacher El tinued, "and in Drakoria, it carries special significe."

  "Yeah," Julian agreed, "it's known as the 'legendary' Pokémon here, isn't it?"

  Drakoria's history was marked by both pride and struggle. During a tumultuous era, one great leader had used an Are to defend the nation from its enemies, being a symbol of hope.

  Are's noble appearance, paired with its fiery strength, ear the title of the 'legendary Pokémon' in the regioe its rarity, Growlithe and Are had bee symbols of national pride.

  Additionally, Are had impressive Species Strength, standing at base stat 555, surpassing all fire-type Pokémon from the three royal starters.

  Its loyalty, speed, and elegance made it a top-tier Pokémon in both form and fun.

  Including Growlithe, Julian now had eight Pokémon, but Meltan had never beeered orainer Associatiowork, so Julian only use the seveered Pokémon if he pys the Open Tour.

  As Juliauro his vil, his Pokémon were lounging around the yard. Steelix was basking tently in the evening sun, and the rest were scattered about, each doing their own thing.

  "Alright, everyone! eet your eammate"

  Julian called, releasing Growlithe from its Poké Ball.

  Metagross, Dragonair, Steelix, Aroan, and Lucario all turheir attention to Growlithe.

  Slowking, busy i, didn't e out, but the rest of Julian's team watched curiously as the small fire-type greeted them with enthusiasm.

  Growlithe, unfazed by the unfamiliar faces, barked happily, wagging his tail.

  'Hello seniors, I am the new intern, you call me Growlithe'

  Pokémon: Growlithe (Fire)

  Level: 20

  Qualification: Blue

  Ability: Fsh Fire

  Held Item: None

  Gender: Male

  Moves: Leer, Ember, Howl, Bite, Fme Wheel, Helping Hand, Agility

  Disc Moves: None

  Geic Moves: Fre Blitz, Overheat, Double-Edge, e

  Despite its retively low level, Growlithe's geic moves stood out as particurly powerful, especially for a Pokémon of blue qualification. Juliahere lenty of potential here.

  Growlithe, looking at each of the older Pokémoually locked eyes with Metagross and offered a respectful bark.

  Growlithe: Hello boss.

  Metagross: Hmm.

  Metagross grunted in aowledgment, nodding in approval of the enthusiastiewer.

  Julian watched the iion, amused. "We're not a gang," he chuckled to himself, watg Growlithe fall right in lih Metagross's leadership.

  Metagross, pleased with Growlithe's loyalty, quickly adopted him as a favored junior.

  Uhe others, who had grown more indepe after evolving, Growlithe's eagero be part of the team felt refreshing.

  It also helped that Growlithe wasn't the serious or aloof type, like Lucario, who only had eyes for Julian, onair, who always seemed to think it was sed in and.

  Meltan and Aron, of course, were simply too young and a little scatterbrained.

  Then there was Steelix, who was simply too massive and zy to care about group dynamics, and Slowking, who was so smart that eveagross felt a bit outwitted when iing with him.

  Metagross: This little one might bey favorite.

  Julian, meanwhile, retrieved the fire crystal from his bag.

  It was encased in special crystals, which blocked its energy from beied by most fire-type Pokémon, preventing it from being snatched by more powerful fire-types like the Magmar species from whom he'd narrowly obtai.

  Yet, as soon as Julian pulled it out, Growlithe's attention soward it.

  Growlithe padded over to Julian, staring at the tennis ball-sized fire crystal in his hand.

  "Impressive. You se already?" Julian marveled at Growlithe's sensitivity.

  "Go ahead, it'll help you grow stronger."

  Julian held out the crystal, and Growlithe, rather than greedily snatg it, licked Julian's palm before carefully swallowing it whole.

  The fire crystal wouldn't immediately transfrowlithe; instead, it would gradually enhance his fme in, signifitly improving the power of his fire-type moves.

  In time, Julian hoped, it would even allow Growlithe to surpass its current blue qualification.

  While the fire crystal alone couldn't elevate Growlithe to purple qualification, a bination of system resources and training might make it possible.

  Julian already had three purple-qualified Pokémoagross, Dragonair, aan.

  With Growlithe now oeam, he could add it to his growing roster of blue-qualified Pokémon alongside Lucario and Aron.

  Even his Slowking and Steelix had -qualification.

  Despite the rarity of -qualified Pokémon iside world, Julian's standards pced them at the bottom of his team in terms of potential.

  "Slow~"

  Suddenly, Slowking called out from the kit, wearing an apron.

  Slowking: It's time for dinner.

  Don't know what Slowking did in the Laboratory, but she had awakened an i for cooking.

  Julian smiled. "Perfect timing."

  Slowking's ued talent for cooking had bee a huge venience for Julian, saving him from having to prepare meals or rely on cafeteria food.

  The taste, of course, was also surprisingly good.